Lochaline Rides

Rides in Lochaline: the Post Route and Savary Glen

Superb mountain biking a remote corner of Lochaber. Seldom visited by many riders, even the Fort William locals, as it’s just too far off the beaten track. Little do they know what they’re missing!

Lochaline is a little over 30 miles from Corran Ferry.

There’s plenty of tracks to explore and an O.S. map (sheets 49 & possibly 47 will help). My favourite provides a mix of tarmac and dirt and has 2 big climbs and 2 equally big descents. At about 40 miles round, it’s caught a few ‘fit’ riders by surprise.

This (and other routes) are now waymarked which is a big help and there’s also a very useful map on the Sunart Oakwoods Initiative web site.

All Lochaline based rides should start and finish with a mug of tea and a bacon buttie at the small tea shop at the ferry jetty and fortunately there’s plenty of parking here.

From the pier find the B849 to Drimnin. The road is virtually traffic free and on a good day the views along the Sound of Mull are fantastic.

It’s about 10 miles to the small village of Drimnin at the end. Before the end of the tarmac turn right and follow the dirt track up and past the house at Mungosdail. After the house there’s a forest gate. Carry on through this and along the forest road, gently climbing as you go. Look out for a green path on the left (GR 583534). This is the old post route over the hill and despite what your lungs and legs may tell you it is rideable to the edge of the forest, just short of the top.

Once through the forest gate, head to the top of the hill. The track is vague on the descent though there are now wooden posts to mark the route – you need to head for the next forest gate on the other side of the hill, slightly off to the left. Careful with your navigation in low cloud! This usually involves some good route finding through the bracken and sheep tracks and the occasional journey over the bars. Once you’ve reached the gate (GR602551) there’s an ancient track which gives a great descent (particularly when dry) to the forest road at Loch Teacuis.

Turn right and follow the forest road, or for a slightly easier variation the tarmac from Rahoy to Loch Arienas. Just before the tarmac road leaves the loch side you can pick up the Forest Enterprise marked route through the Savary Glen. This starts with a long gradual climb over 8km to the top of the glen at around 300m.

The Savary Glen track branches left off the forest road near the top of the hill and descends through the trees back to the B849. If you’re still going, turn left and hobble the short distance back to Lochaline for another visit to the Lochaline ferry tea shop.